Triathlonbag II

ABSTRACT

The triathlonbag is used for the rapid identification and segregation of triathlon equipment. The bag comprises a water-resistant base ( 11 ) to which water-resistant front and rear shells are connected with a waterproof closure device ( 16 ). Storage areas of meshed material are disposed on the interior ( 17, 18, 19 ) and exterior ( 1,3,4,5,6 ) surfaces of the shells and, along with a removable mesh cylinder ( 20 ), allow segregation of wet and dry items and rapid visual identification of and access to the equipment. This triathlonbag may be transported either as a duffel bag or as a backpack.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0001] Not applicable.

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

[0002] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND

[0003] 1. Field of Invention

[0004] This invention relates to sports bags, specifically sports bags used in triathlons.

[0005] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0006] Traditionally, athletes used sports bags simply to transport sports equipment and clothing; therefore, their utility lied in their ability to move the greatest amount of equipment with the least effort, and the bag was never an active part of the sport, playing a direct role in the athlete's performance.

[0007] A triathlon is a timed, non-stop sequence of swimming, running, and cycling events, each having its own equipment. Inherent in a triathlon are two transitions, where the triathlete completes one event and begins another. Minimizing transition times is a goal of every triathlete; therefore, a sports bag that can transport, segregate, display, and accessibly-organize triathlon gear reduces transition time, thereby providing utility to every triathlete who uses such bag.

[0008] Several patents have issued for backpack-type devices, none of which claim interior storage features necessary to quickly segregate, identify, and retrieve sports equipment.

[0009] Rohrbach, patent D.388,248 (1997); Sakelliou, patent D.420,792 (2000); Farris, patent 5,676,293 (1997); McDermott, U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,447 (1998); and Paul et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,881 (2000).

[0010] Some patents have issued for carrying cases with a variety of internal storage compartments, but the utility of such devices were to segregate and display tools or sample products. They are not backpacks, have no external storage that displays items clearly, and do not have the ability to segregate wet and dry items. Shaw, U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,404 (1995); Cirigliano, U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,337 (1997); and Allen U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,780 (1998).

[0011] Other patents have issued for sports-specific bags, none of which were for triathlon equipment. Gerch, U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,748 (1989) teaches a duffel bag with a racket pocket; Peng, U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,771 (1998) teaches a backpack for transporting in line skates; Fournier, WO 98/52439 (1998) teaches a duffel bag with interior mesh pockets for transporting and drying hockey equipment, but Fournier does not segregate wet and dry items, is not a backpack, and has no external storage.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

[0012] The subject invention may be transported as either a duffel bag or a backpack and has exterior and interior mesh storage areas to segregate wet and dry items, as well as a removable mesh bag. The various sizes and locations of the meshed storage areas are designed to hold all types of triathlon gear, ranging from a large full-body wet suit to small goggles and allow for rapid identification and removal of items. The subject invention, when fully opened, provides full display of the interior contents and a removable mesh bag and is small enough to fit in the triathlete's designated transition area. The exterior of the invention has meshed storage areas to promote storage and drying of wet items.

SUMMARY

[0013] In accordance with the present invention, a convertible duffel bag/backpack comprises a water-resistant shell with interior, exterior, and removable mesh storage areas.

DRAWINGS BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1A is a front view of my invention when not secured by straps. FIG. 1B is a front view of my invention when secured by straps. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of my invention. FIG. 3 is a side view of my invention. FIG. 4 is a rear view of my invention. FIG. 5 is an interior view of my invention in the fully-open position. FIG. 6 is a view of a collapsible bag.

[0015] Reference Numerals In Drawings

[0016]1 Front exterior mesh bag

[0017]2 Stabilizer

[0018]3 Front exterior left mesh pocket

[0019]4 Front exterior right mesh pocket

[0020]5 Front exterior left pocket

[0021]6 Front exterior right pocket

[0022]7 Top female strap connector

[0023]8 Top male strap connector

[0024]9 Left strap

[0025]10 Right strap

[0026]11 Base

[0027]12 Right shoulder strap

[0028]13 Left shoulder strap

[0029]14 Right waist strap

[0030]15 Left waist strap

[0031]16 Top closure device

[0032]17 Small interior mesh pocket

[0033]18 Left interior mesh pocket

[0034]19 Right interior mesh pocket

[0035]20 Mesh cylinder

[0036]21 Pouch

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Preferred Embodiment

[0038] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-6. The Triathlonbag II has an ovular base 11 of a flexible water resistant material, such as urethane. Communicating with said base 11 is a front shell of a water resistant material, such as nylon opposite a front exterior mesh bag 1, front exterior left mesh pocket 3, front exterior right mesh pocket 4, front exterior left pocket 5, and front exterior right pocket 6 as depicted in FIG. 1A. Said front exterior left pocket 5 and front exterior right pocket 6 may be sealed by waterproof closure devices, such as zippers. In the preferred embodiment, the invention may be secured by connecting a stabilizer 2 to the front shell by joining a top female strap connector 7 to a male strap connector 8 and securing left strap 9 and right strap 10 as shown in FIG. 1B.

[0039] Also communicating with said base 11 is a rear shell of flexible water resistant material, such as nylon. Attached to the exterior of the rear shell are a right shoulder strap 12 and a left shoulder strap 13. Also attached to the exterior of the rear shell and perpendicular to the right shoulder strap 12 and left shoulder strap 13 are a right waist strap 14 and a left waist strap 15 as depicted in FIGS. 2,4.

[0040] Said front shell communicates with said rear shell by a top closure device 16, such as a zipper, to form a backpack as shown in FIG. 3.

[0041] A small interior mesh pocket 17 is secured on three sides to the interior of the front shell. One side of a left interior mesh pocket 18 and one side of a right interior mesh pocket 19 are each secured to the interior of the rear shell such that they may fold outward when the invention is in an open position as depicted in FIG. 5.

[0042] Depicted in FIG. 6 is a collapsible bag comprised of a pouch 21 of flexible water resistant material, such as nylon, and a mesh cylinder 20. The mesh cylinder 20 is connected to the open end of the pouch 21 and may be closed with a draw string as depicted in FIG. 5. The collapsible bag is attached to the interior of the rear shell between the left interior mesh pocket 18 and right interior mesh pocket 19 by an adhesive material that allows the collapsible bag to be easily removed and re-secured many times.

[0043] Operation

[0044] The manner of using the Triathlonbag II is similar to that for backpacks; namely to store and transport objects. However, in addition, the Triathlonbag II may be used to segregate wet items from dry items and, in its open position, the entire contents of the interior are visible. Extensive use of closure devices and straps ensure that the contents of the Triathlonbag II remain secure when the Triathlonbag II is being used. Unique features of Triathlonbag II are the fold out left and right interior mesh pockets 18,19 and the removable collapsible bag as depicted in FIGS. 5,6. 

I claim:
 1. A sports bag for segregating items transported thereby comprising: a) an ovular base of a flexible water resistant material; b) a front shell and a rear shell, connected to opposite side edges of the base; wherein the front shell and rear shell are formed of a water resistant material and, in a first configuration, the base, front shell, and rear shell are co-planar and, in a second configuration, the front shell and rear shell extend upwardly from the base, and the edges of the front shell and the rear shell are joined via a waterproof closure device; c) a front exterior mesh bag, a front exterior left mesh pocket, and a front exterior right mesh pocket disposed on the exterior surface of the front shell, each comprising a moisture permeable and air permeable material; d) a front exterior left pocket and front exterior right pocket disposed on the exterior surface of the front shell, each comprising a moisture resistant material; e) an interior mesh pocket disposed on the interior surface of the front shell, the interior mesh pocket comprising a moisture permeable and air permeable material; f) a left interior mesh pocket and a right interior mesh pocket secured to the interior of the rear shell; and, g) a carrying means.
 2. A sports bag according to claim 1, additionally comprising waterproof closure devices for the front exterior left pocket and front exterior right pocket.
 3. A sports bag according to claim 1, additionally comprising a stabilizer.
 4. A sports bag according to claim 3, additionally comprising a means to secure the stabilizer to the front shell.
 5. A sports bag according to claim 4, wherein the means to secure the stabilizer to the front shell comprises a top female strap connector, a top male strap connector, a left strap, and a right strap.
 6. A sports bag according to claim 1, additionally comprising a collapsible bag.
 7. A sports bag according to claim 6, the collapsible bag comprising a pouch of a flexible water resistant material and a mesh cylinder of a moisture permeable and air permeable material.
 8. A sports bag according to claim 7, additionally comprising a means to secure the collapsible bag to the interior of the rear shell.
 9. A sports bag according to claim 1, wherein the carrying means comprises a right shoulder strap, a left shoulder strap, a right waist strap, and a left waist strap.
 10. A sports bag according to claim 1, wherein the moisture permeable and air permeable material is a nylon mesh.
 11. A sports bag according to claim 10, wherein the nylon mesh is an elastic nylon mesh.
 12. A sports bag according to claim 8, wherein the means to secure the collapsible bag to the interior of the rear shell is an adhesive material. 